Even Now, He’s Still A-Mized
INDIAN WELLS — What’s the biggest shot in the history of the Masters?
Gene Sarazen’s double eagle in 1935?
Jack Nicklaus’ from-here-to-eternity, 40-foot putt on No. 16 that helped him win in 1975?
Fred Couples’ Amen Corner tee shot on No. 12 that stayed on the bank when it didn’t have a prayer to stay dry in his victory in 1992?
Or how about the shot that’s observing an important anniversary this year?
Ten years ago this April, a 28-year-old golfer born and raised in Augusta, Ga., who used to work the scoreboard on the No. 3 hole at the Masters, launched a ball with his sand wedge from 140 feet on the second playoff hole and knocked it into the bottom of the cup.
That was Larry Mize, a mild-mannered, soft-spoken Georgian. Once that ball hit the hole, the only person more surprised than Greg Norman in that playoff was Mize.
“I couldn’t believe it went in,†Mize said. “I just started running around screaming. It took a while for it to sink it. I just couldn’t believe I won it. But I did.â€
It was a decade ago, but Mize said it seems the time that has passed could be measured just as easily in the blink of an eye.
“I can’t believe it was so long ago,†he said. “I must say it’s not something I think about often, but when I do, I remember it very vividly.â€
Mize birdied the 72nd hole of the 1987 Masters to find himself in a three-way playoff with Seve Ballesteros and Norman. Ballesteros took himself out with a bogey on No. 10, the first playoff hole.
On the 11th, Mize missed the green to the right with his approach while Norman was on the right fringe, about 50 feet from the pin.
“Since Greg was so far from the hole, I thought he had a difficult two-putt,†Mize said. “I was just trying to get it up there close, get a good putt for par and put some heat on him.â€
Mize has won twice in the last 10 years, both times in 1993, and his 10-year exemption for winning the Masters expires at the end of this year. He has to win again or finish in the top 125 on the money list to keep his playing privileges.
That may not be too difficult for Mize since he has not finished lower than No. 67 on the money list since 1983.
Jay Haas said Mize never was regarded as a flash in the pan.
“I think we all felt he was capable of something great,†Haas said. “But I guess you’d have to say the way he won was a lightning bolt for sure.
“You figure you play that hole the same way 100 times and Greg is going to win it 70 times,†Haas said. “And Larry would win it, what, once?â€
But that one time was good enough for Mize. He has banked nearly $5 million in prize money in his career and he has a green jacket--not bad for that skinny kid from Augusta who wound up winning his hometown tournament.
“It was a dream come true,†Mize said. “You always tee it up with the plan of winning, that’s always your goal, but to win the Masters in the town where you were born, that’s the thrill of a lifetime.â€
PARDON ME, THERE ARE SOME HOLES IN YOUR COVER
You could fill out a nice missing person’s report from the cover of the official program for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Pictured are Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer, Kevin Costner and John Elway. Hope is the only one who played. The others withdrew.
The participation of Hope, 93, lasted one shot on opening day.
HOW DOES A TIGER FILL HIS TIME?
After his near ace that won last weekend’s season-opening Mercedes Championships, Tiger Woods decided he had to have a break, that he needed to get away from it all.
Woods was so far away from it, he went to the Laker-Vancouver game Tuesday night at the Forum.
He also spent a night at Costner’s house near Thousand Oaks. There is speculation that Costner will be Woods’ partner at Pebble Beach in two weeks.
Woods will play the Phoenix Open next week.
TOP 10 QUESTIONS FOR 1997
1. What will Tiger Woods do for an encore?
Oh, probably win a major.
2. Which rookie will have the greatest impact?
Look out for Stewart Cink, who not only won three times on the Nike Tour and led the money list in 1996, but also made $108,710 in only five PGA Tour events with two top-10 finishes.
3. How will Frank Nobilo of New Zealand and Sandy Lyle of Scotland do as full-time PGA Tour members?
Nobilo probably will make the top 30 on the money list. Lyle probably will make some cuts.
4. Who is Jimmy Johnston?
He’s a 27-year-old from Knoxville who played the PGA Tour in 1993, lost his card and bounced back in fine fashion--he and Allan Doyle were co-medalists at the 1996 tour qualifying tournament.
5. What’s unusual about the majors?
The Masters doesn’t move, but the other three major championships are going back to places they haven’t seen in a while. The U.S. Open is at Congressional (the last time it was there was in 1964, although the PGA was there in 1976), the British Open at Troon (1989), the PGA at Winged Foot (1984 U.S. Open).
6. Does Annika Sorenstam have a chance to win three U.S. Open championships in a row?
Only if she shows up.
7. Who will make the U.S. Ryder Cup team?
If the team were decided today, the first 10 would be Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Mark Brooks, Phil Mickelson, Scott Hoch, Woods, Mark O’Meara, Couples, Steve Stricker and Steve Jones.
8. Is there such a thing as a sophomore jinx?
Watch Karrie Webb to find out. Webb was the first LPGA player to make $1 million in prize money last year.
9. Is it an end of an era on the Senior PGA Tour?
With Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez winding down, you could say that.
10. Is there any money on the PGA Tour?
Only $71 million in prize money. A record 162 players earned at least $100,000 in 1996.
LPGA: SORENSTAM GOES TO SCHOOL
Sorenstam carries a personal computer with her on the LPGA Tour to input her results, so we know we she knows the score.
Soon, she’s also going to know the rules.
Next week at Newport Beach, Sorenstam is going to sit in at USGA Rules School, which is designed for those who want to become rules officials.
Sorenstam doesn’t, but she does want to know the rules better, said Andrea Solomita of the USGA, who arranged an exemption into the class for Sorenstam as a USGA champion--not as an LPGA member--since she is the two-time defending U.S. Open champion.
Maybe she will leave the door open and a few more players could find out it doesn’t hurt to know a few of the rules in their sport.
SENIOR PGA: COMING-OUT PARTIES
Johnny Miller, who turns 50 on April 29, is easily the biggest name player to become eligible for the Senior PGA Tour in 1997, which looks like a lean year for new members.
Larry Nelson, who won the PGA twice and the 1983 U.S. Open, is 50 in September.
But Nelson can’t equal Miller’s recognizability in what has been a tour built on name recognition--until now, at least. All you need to know about the senior tour’s star power is that Jim Colbert has been the dominant senior the last two years.
Miller won the 1973 U.S. Open and the 1976 British Open and had 24 PGA Tour victories. But Miller has bad knees and didn’t play a single tournament in 1996, so he probably won’t be a factor on the senior tour.
The list of the rest of the eligible seniors in 1997 doesn’t look that formidable--Leonard Thompson, Steve Melnyk, Jerry Heard and Ed Dougherty.
You have to wait until 1999 for a class with star appeal. That’s when Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Lanny Wadkins turn 50.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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